Dress code for teachers and uniform dress for students are common, but it was interesting to read recently about the dress code to be imposed by a few private schools on the parents of students. And why not? Parents are as important as teachers as trend setters.
Even with the advent of the virtual world, children do look up to elders and teachers for hints on behavior and attire. By a stretch of analogy, in the good old days, the ruler of a kingdom used to set and follow virtuous principles as he served as the yardstick for the spoken word and deed.
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In the Ramayana, the noble king Sree Rama, although an avatar of Vishnu, behaved like an ordinary king and after his return from exile, did the unthinkable and tested his consort Sita for the benefit of his kinsmen, as she had been held in captivity by the demon king Ravana. This was done to dispel any sort of rumour that different yardsticks were being used for the king and the common man.
Of course, Sita, herself an incarnation of the divine mother, passed the test but chose to go back to her birthplace, the land beneath, leaving Lord Rama in tears like any mortal. If the former’s action was for public credibility, the latter’s action was to showcase a lady’s self respect. Both are shining examples worth emulating, but very difficult for the modern times, wherein examples of the extreme other may be found. Likewise in the Gita, Lord Krishna says, “Yad yad aacharathi shreshtah tad tad evetaro janah, Sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate”.
Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow, believing such an action to be the standard. It is Lord Krishna’s message not only to Arjuna but to everyone – to lead by example.
Lord Jesus Christ said that a leader should not lord it over the people but be their servant and one amongst them – truthful, forgiving and compassionate. It becomes very easy for the common people to justify their actions if leaders do unethical or disgusting deeds and go free.
The same applies to business managers who can become successful only if they lead by example.
I remember a senior manager at my erstwhile place of work, who set about clearing the overflowing despatch tray, as the clerk was on leave since two days and there was a staff shortage. It was considered the most menial of all work, but on seeing him at it, some other staff members came forward to lend him a hand and the task was completed in no time.
Likewise a latecomer boss cannot enforce discipline. Youngsters are malleable and extremely vulnerable to how a parent or an elder talks or behaves in particular circumstances. They will assume that what was spoken or done was correct even though it may not have been so under an impartial lens. Smaller children are copycats, and extreme care should be taken by their guardians to imbibe the correct values in them, be it the words spoken, the dress worn according to the situation, or the behavior shown in different situations.
Albeit a tough task, today’s parents should walk the talk as they handle the resources of the future.
